Combination strainer and valve



Feb. 9, 1937. H. c.EAsTER 2,070,395

COMBINATION STRAINER AND VALVE Filed April 5, 1954 INVENTOR Har/y I 0572# TTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES .1i OFFIE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to combination strainers `and valves, and more particularly to a device of the above mentionedcharacter that is provided -With a simple valve mechanism, and which is so constructed and arranged that either of the strainers provided therein can be readily removed While the device is in operation, the flow of liquid at such time being through the strainer that is not removed, and such flow of liquid taking place `Without any danger or possibility of liquid entering the portion of the device that must be opened in order to remove the strainer that is to be removed therefrom.

It is a particular purpose of my invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character, that comprises a combined selective control and shut-oir valve, which controls the ow of liquid from an'inlet passage to the strainer containing chambers or passages in the device, in such'a manner that liquid is supplied to either one strainer chamber, or passage, or to the other strainer chamber, or passage, or to neither of these, thus shutting off the flow of liquid through the device, and to an apparatus supplied with liquid thereby, such as a liquid fuel burner.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide in combination with such a valve, check valves, which are, preferably, ball check valves, that permit the flow of liquid from a strainer passage, or chamber, into an outlet chamber, but not from the outlet chamber into the strainer passage, or chamber, thus preventing flow of liquid fromvone strainer passage, or chamber, to the other passage, or chamber. These ball check valves serve the further function of preventing any back pressure due to any cause whatsoever, from enteringeither of the strainer passages, or chambers, from the outlet passage, or from any apparatus with which the outlet passage may be connected.

It is another important purpose of my invention to provide an arrangement of strainer receiving passages, or chambers, such that the strainers can be removed therefrom by a simple operation, and to so construct the strainers that the same can be readily removed from the passages in which the same are normally located, for cleaning or other purposes, and to replace the same in operative position. The V-shaped body portion of the device is provided to facilitate removal of the strainers.

It is another important purpose of my invention to provide a readily accessible mounting for the balls and springs of the ball check valves, and `to so construct said ball check valves that the same will have a good seat that will provide a liquid-tight seating for the balls when the valves are in closed position.

It is another purpose of my invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character, in which the selective control and shut-off valve is so made that the same will remain in any adjusted position, and to provide means for operating the same to move the same to any of the selective positions thereof, comprising a handle member that is so detachably associated with the valve member that the handle member can be fitted on the valve member in only one position relative to said valve member, and so that the handle member can be utilized to indicate the direction of flow through the combined shut-off and selective control valve.

Said handle member preferably comprises a wrench that is provided with means for unscrewing plugs that provide for access to the strainer members and to theball check Valves.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawing proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as dei-lned in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of my improved device, showing portions of the inlet and outlet passages connected therewith, and showing the handle member in two alternative positions.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through said selective control and strainer devices, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2, being taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View through the selective control and shut-oif valves, showing the same open to one of the strainer chambers.

Referring in detail to the drawing, my improved combination strainer and valve device comprises a body portion having a pair of obliquely extending tubular portions I0, which converge toward the outlet end Il of the device. The tubular portions are joined by an upper transverse portion I2, which forms a Valve casing for the valve member I3, which controls the flow of liquid :from the inlet connection I into said device. The valve i3 is a combination selective control and shut-01T valve. Said valve casing portion comprises an inlet passage i5 and outlet passages I6 and i? that lead to the chambers i8 and i9 respectively, in the tubular portions it. The tubular portions lil are joined at their converging ends, both leading into a chamber 2i) that leads to the outlet connection i I.

The valve i3 is provided with a tapering body portion that ts in a tapering bore 2 I, and is provided with a reduced end portion 22, around which the compression spring 23 extends, said spring seating against a shoulder 24 provided on the valve casing surrounding the valve i3 at o-ne end thereof, and at the other end against a shouldered washer 25 that is slidably mounted on the stem portion 26 that projects from the other end of the valve. The stem portion 25 is threaded and receives a nut 2'! thereon for adjusting the compression of the spring 23. It will be obvious that by adjusting the nut 2l the frictional engagement between the valve i3 and the tapering bore 2l can be varied as desired, the important feature being that the contact between the outer surface of the valve and the inner surface of the bore in the valve casing is suiicient that a tight connection is provided between the same, and that the valve will stay in its adjusted position.

The body portion of the valve is hollow, there being a chamber 23 within said valve, and thus a tubular passage is provided within said valve, a portion of the side wall of the valve being cut away at 29 to provide a passage in said valve for establishing communication between any of the ports I5, i6 and Il that it may be desired to connect thereby. When the valve is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the solid wall portion thereof is in such position that the ports I5, i6 and l'I are all closed, thus shutting off thev supply of liquid from the inner connection Id. This is the position of the valve shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

The valve member i3 is provided with a projection 3@ on the larger end thereof that is shown as being triangular, but the sides of the triangular projection are all of diierent lengths so that the triangular opening 3l in the head 32 on the wrench-like handle 33 can only be engaged therewith in one relation to the valve, the onset 'II therein and the projection of the various parts of the device toward said handle also assuring this. Thus the position of the wrenchlike handle 33 will indicate the seating of the valve. When the wrench-like handle is in the full line position shown in Fig. 1, the valve is in the shut-01T position. When the wrenchlike handle member is in the dotted position 33 shown in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 6, the valve is in such position that the opening 29 will overlap both the port i5 and the port Il, establishing communication with the chamber I9, while, when the handle member is in the dotted position 33" shown in Fig. 1, the opening 29 will be in such position that it overlaps the ports I5 and i e, establishing communication between the inlet connection i4 and the chamber i3. It will be obvious that in the position A33 of the handle mentioned, the closed wall portion of the valve I3 will completely cut oli the passage I6 from communication with either the passage Il or the passage I5, and that in the dotted line position 33 of the valve handle, the closed wall portion of the valve I3 will be in such position as to completely shut oi the passage Il from the passages I5 and I6.

The tubular member I0, which is provided with the chamber I8, into which the port IS leads, is provided with an elongated tubular passage 34, and the tubular member I, which has the chamber I9, into which the passage I'I leads, is provided with an elongated tubular passage 35, the chambers I3 and I9 being in communication, respectively, with the passages 3@ and 35, and there being shoulders 36 provided between the passages 34 and 35 respectively, and the chambers I8 and I9. The passage 34 leads into the chamber 2D through a passage 31, there being a ball valve 38 provided for controlling flow of liquid through the passage 31 into the chamber 20. A similar passage 39 leads from the tubular passage 35 into the chamber 20, and a ball valve li) controls the ilow of liquid through the passage 39.

A partition is provided between each of the passages 34 and 35 and the chamber 20, these partitions each comprising an inwardly extending transverse wall portion 4I, a longitudinally extending wall portion d2, and a transverse wall portion 43, the partitions thus forming valve chambers d4, in the end of the chamber 20 adjacent the passages Si! and 35, said valve chambers h3 accommodating the vaive mechanism comprising the balls 38 and itil. The wall portions !2 are provided with valve seats i5 on the faces thereof, toward the chambers iid, against which the balls 38 and ed seat. The valve seats 45 are made in the form of feather edged annular ribs on said wall portions ft2.

A longitudinal web portion l5 separates the passages 3d and 35 at the ends thereof adjacent the chamber 2G, and a similar web portion il is provided between the chambers i-f, this being provided to strengthen the structure at this point, and to house the ball members 38 and lill. Tubular plug-like members i8 are provided that screw-threadedly engage in screw-threaded openings i9 in one wall of the chamber 2B, said plug-like members i8 having flat faces 5B thereon for engagement of a wrench portion 5I therewith, the wrench portion being provided with an open side so that it can be utilized to unscrew the plug-like members 58, which are close together, as will be evident from Fig. l, without one plug member i8 interfering with unscrewing of the other plug-like member. The pluglike members are provided with closed end walls, as will be obvious from Fig. 6, against which the compression coil springs 52 bear, said springs engaging the balls 38 and @il to hold the same against the seats [55. It will be obvious that the ,ball valves 38 and 4B are check valves that prevent low of liquid from the chamber 2B into either the passage 3Q or 35, but which do not prevent the flow of liquid from either the passage 3d or 35 into the chamber 2B.

. Each of the tubular portions Id is provided with screw-threaded openings 53 therein at the diverging ends thereof, with which screw plugs engage to close the chambers i8 and i9 under normal conditions, the screw plug 53 being provided for closing the chamber I 8, and the screw plug 55 being provided for closing the chamber These screw plugs are of the sam-e construction, being provided with iianges 55 that engage annular shoulders 5? on the diverging ends of the tubular portions Iii, and with inwardly eX- tending externally threaded tubular portions 58 that engage with the internal threads 53, thus providing socketportions having end wal1s.59 therein. The plugs 54 and 55 are so made that the same, when threaded into position, provide a liquid-tight closure for the chambers I8 and I9.

lOlwhich are perforated, as well as are the side walls or the strainers. The openings provided in the perforated Walls of the strainer members can be made of any desired size for the purpose intended, being, preferably, made rather small so as to strain out any particles that might interfere with the proper. flow of liquid into an oil burner, or similar device, that may have a needle valve used to control the same, or that may have small passages for the discharge of liquid therefrom.

Each of the strainer members is provided with a flange 63 at the open end thereof that engages with the shoulder 35 when the strainer member is in position. The end wall 52 has a rod-like member 55 secured thereto, which extends beyond the open end of the strainer and is provided with a loop portion 65 that serves as a handle member, said loop portion being in substantial engagement with the end wall 59 of the socket portion on the inside of the plug 54 or 55, as the case may be, so as to prevent any shifting of the strainer member in the passage inwhich the same is located.

By this arrangement the strainer members are held in proper position in the device, with the fiange 63 against the shoulder 35, thus preventing any particles from going past the strainer without passing through the same, and also providing means for not only holding the strainer in the desired position, but for manipulating the same into and out of position within the device, without difculty. The handle portions 65 are relatively clean, even where a heavy oil is used in connection with the apparatus, and there are no loose rings or gaskets, or other parts, that become gummed up that have to be removed when it is desired to remove a strainer for cleaning purposes, or for other purposes. The strainer can be removed as a unit by means of the handle portions 55, all that is necessary to remove and replace a strainer being to remove the plug and the strainer, and then replace these parts after cleaning or otherwise performing any desired operations on the strainer. The plug members 54 and 55 are provided with a hexagonal portion 55 thereon, with which the hexagonal wrench portion 6l engages for unscrewing these plugs and for screwing them back into position.

It will be obvious that when the strainer member 50 is to be removed, for example, al1 that is necessary is to set the valve in the position shown in Fig. '7, which is that with the handle in the dotted line position 35 shown in Fig, l, at which time the closed wall portion of the valve I3- will close off the passage or port I5, establishing communication between the ports I and I1, and causing the liquid to pass through the strainer 5i past the ball valve lit, into the outlet chamber 25, the ball valve 38 preventing any liquid from passing backwardly into the passage 34.'

The plug 54 and the strainer 6i) can then be removed without any danger of any oil, or other liquid, flowing out through the plug receiving opening 53. After the strainer 60 has been cleaned, it can be replaced in position and the plug 54 screwed down in liquid-tight relation with' the opening in the tubular portion IU with which it is associated. Then the valve can be turned so that the handle has the position 33" indicated in Fig. 1, when the port Il Will be closed andthe ports I5 and IS will be in communication, whereupon the ball valve 38 will be open to permit liquid to pass therethrough, the ball valve 45 will shut off communication between the chamber 2)A and the passage 35, and the strainer 5I can be removed by removing the plug 55 in a similar manner to that previously described in connection with the strainer 60. Thev operation of a single simply constructed valve is all that is necessary to accomplish this removal and replacement of the strainer members, the ball valves 38 and 4I] cooperating therewith to prevent any flow of liquid in the wrong direction, and also preventing any back pressure communicated through the outlet pipe 68 from i reaching the passages 34 or 35. The inlet pipe B9 is also shown as being connected with the inlet I 4.

It will be noted that the rod-like handle member 54 with the loop 65 thereon, does not in any respect interfere with the passage of the liquid through the strainer member, leaving a clear passage al1 around the same for the liquid to pass through the openings in the strainer. It will also be noted that due to the V-shaped character of the body portion of the device and the arrangement of the inlet passage I4 relative to the inclined portions IU having the passages 34 and 35, the plugs 54 and 55 and the strainers 6U and 6I can be readily removed and replaced without any interference of the pipe 69 with such operation.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, a body portion having an inlet at one end thereof, and an outlet at the other end thereof, a pair of longitudinal strainer chambers in said body portion, strainers removably mounted therein, a combination selective control and shut-off valve for directing iiow of fluid to either of said chambers or shutting off flow of uid to both thereof, a screw plug in each chamber providing access to said strainers to remove or replace the same, an outlet from each of said chambers leading to the outlet of said body portion and a check valve at each of said outlets, said combination valve having an unsymmetrical end portion thereon and having a detachable elongated wrench-like handle thereon so formedas to engage said end portion of said valve in only one relation, whereby the position thereof indicates the setting of said valve, said handle extending substantially parallel to said body portion and being provided with means adapted to engage said plugs to turn the same.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tapering body portion having a pair of tubular portions converging toward one end of said device, an outlet connection extending endwise from said body portion at the converging ends of said tubular portions, bal1 check valves between said tubular portions and said outlet connection, tubular strainers in said tubular portions, the divergent ends of said tubular portions having openings therein through which said strainers are adapted to be passed, screw plugs closing said openings, a connecting portion extending between the divergent ends of said tubular portions, and an inlet connection extending endwise from said connecting portion between said screw plugs.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion having a pair of tubular portions converging toward one end of said device, strainer members in said tubular portion, an outlet connection extending endwise from said body portion at the converging ends of said tubular portions, a partition at the converging end of each tubular portion having a raised annular valve seat thereon, ball check valves engaging said seats, and screw-threaded means providing access to said ball check valves.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion having a pair of tubular portions converging toward one end of said device, strainer members in said tubular portions, a longitudinal partition in said body portion at the converging end of each tubular portion and transverse Walls extending from each partition to the opposite Walls of the tubular portion having said partition, a projecting annular valve seat rib on one face of each partition surrounding an opening therein, a ball check valve engaging each seat, a spring urging each check valve toward its seat, tubular plugs screw-threadedly engaging said body portion and receiving said springs and an outlet connection to which said valves lead extending endwise from said body portion at the converging ends of said tubular portions.

HARRY C. EASTER. 

